We would see.

  Fortunately, the drive wasn’t long; I had doubts I would have been able to control my wolf. He wanted his own taste of revenge, something I was determined to allow. If Emilio thought hiding out in a seedy little motel was going to save his life, he was dead wrong.

  I thought about the photo album as well as the ploy with the Feds. The play had been one of the best I’d experienced, causing the downfall of my reputation as well as allowing them to take Coraline without incident.

  I didn’t waste any time exiting the vehicle, bursting into the room. Emilio immediately backed away, attempting to reach for his gun.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Emilio.”

  Bronco closed the door behind us, merely standing guard in front.

  “I gave you a chance, one that would have saved lives. You failed me again. You do know what that means.”

  Sweat immediately slid down both sides of his face. He shifted his gaze back and forth, the terror in his eyes more intense than usual. “I couldn’t help you, Mr. Dupree. They would have killed me. I’m here because I think they want me dead anyway.”

  “The Fontenots?”

  He seemed surprised I knew. “Yeah, Tony. He’s the fucking asshole leader right now. Horrible bastard.”

  I almost laughed. It was apparent that despite my reputation, he feared what Tony would do far more than I. “Interesting.” I clamped my fist around his shirt, easily able to lift and toss him onto the bed. Then I leaned over, sliding the weapon from his pocket and into mine. “I’m going to ask you once, then I’m going to start shooting, but there won’t be any kill shots, at least not yet. Do you understand?”

  At least he had the good sense to nod in affirmation.

  “Excellent. I need to know where they would take a very good friend of mine.”

  “I don’t know. I swear to God. They didn’t tell me shit.”

  I placed the barrel of the gun just above his right knee. “I don’t have time to waste, Emilio. One last time. Where is she?”

  “I honest to God don’t know.”

  Now the fucker was sweating profusely.

  Although I moved the weapon away from his leg, when I fired a single shot, he jerked back, letting out a howl and pitching down on the bed. Sighing, I wasn’t entirely certain I was going to get anywhere and that truly pissed me off. “Am I just wasting my time here?”

  When he didn’t respond right away, I yanked him by the shirt again. He was panting from fear. At least he knew what I was capable of.

  “There’s a place… a burial ground in the Bayou. I promise you that I don’t know the exact location. I just heard one of the assholes talking about it.”

  I shifted my attention to Bronco. “Why don’t you go to the car? Contact the pilot. We’re headed to Louisiana.”

  Bronco shifted his gaze to Emilio then nodded before exiting the room.

  I slowly returned my attention to Emilio, patting him on the opposite leg. He flinched, whimpering as he fisted the comforter. “I’m sorry, Mr. Dupree. I never wanted this to happen.”

  While every indication gave me the sense that he was telling the truth, he still needed to learn a valuable lesson, one I hoped this time he wouldn’t forget.

  As I started to shift, he was mesmerized.

  Until my claws formed, breaking through the tips of my nails.

  Then he threw his head back and screamed.

  The Bayou. While it existed all around Baton Rouge, the boggy terrain was the densest around Thibodaux. Returning to the godforsaken place angered my senses. However, as soon as I stepped out of the rented Jeep, I was able to indulge in her sweet scent.

  As well as the stench of her terror.

  At least she was still alive.

  Other vehicles moved into position within seconds. I was almost surprised to see all three of my brothers had arrived with a hefty contingency of their soldiers. They’d been advised of the existence of the photo album as well as the letter sent to the great-great-grandfather of Tony Fontenot. They knew what was at stake. They’d also experienced other difficulties with further attempts at sabotaging their businesses. It was time to draw a line in the sand.

  With blood.

  There were also other Dupree descendants who’d joined the effort, most of them remaining in the shadows of the forest, some already making the transition into wolves. What remained troubling was our inability to sense the perpetrators. Perhaps that was one aspect of the curse Jade had made certain to use in order to keep her thousands of descendants safe.

  Luke had sent me the email he’d promised, although I’d had little time to spend on deciphering the names. However, it was clear the Brousseau tree branched off into several factions. While it would appear a solid number of the original family members had remained alive after the massacre, their numbers had been significantly diluted.

  That didn’t mean they didn’t carry a powerful gene, one provided by the voodoo priestess. They had certain advantages over our family, which had enabled them to become so destructive. And they’d been able to prepare for the year of the two blue moons.

  “What the hell are we doing here?” Marcel asked.

  “Saving our future,” Christoff answered.

  While darkness was settling in, the limited light hadn’t hindered our abilities. We could see clearly into the forest, although I knew both the rough terrain as well as the blackened skies would impede our soldiers’ efforts. After taking a deep whiff, I realized that the smaller animals had fled, aware that a battle was about to ensue. Smart little creatures.

  As requested, several of the soldiers had brought powerful lights with them, although they’d been instructed to keep them dark until given the orders otherwise.

  “Are you certain we should shift?” Sebastian asked after he flanked my side.

  “We have no other choice if we want to defeat them,” I snarled.

  “And save your mate,” Marcel said, his tone continuing to remain furious.

  I narrowed my eyes as I looked at him. “Do you now believe what our father told us?”

  He hesitated, scanning the woods. “I’m no longer certain what to believe. We have far too many enemies at this point.”

  “Which means we can’t let our guard down at any time,” Christoff hissed then pulled his assault rifle in front of him. “We kill anyone who attempts to get in our way.”

  While I wasn’t interested in starting an all-out war, I would do whatever was necessary to get my mate back. After taking another deep whiff, my gut told me we had no time to waste. If our intel was wrong, the location centered in another part of the Bayou, our attempts at ending the first stage of the battle would be lost.

  That couldn’t happen.

  “It’s time.” I moved out first, heading in the direction where my wolf guided me. As we moved into the thicker part of the forest, the ground squishing beneath our feet, the stench of mold and decay became more appalling. I could hear several of the soldiers mumbling, unaccustomed to the bog. They would soon learn how to navigate or perish to the other murderous creatures who owned a good portion of the area.

  Poisonous snakes.

  Alligators.

  Mountain lions.

  I continually scanned the area, every sound penetrating my eardrums. We’d gone well over a mile when I heard what sounded like voices. I threw out my arm, stopping those closest from continuing.

  Sebastian moved around me, taking two additional steps. Then he turned to face me, his eyes already glowing. “Less than half a mile.”

  “Yes…” I snarled under my breath. I moved down the line of men, providing details about what I wanted them to do, which included spreading further into the outlying perimeter of the forest to enable us to encircle as much of the area as possible.

  Then the full push was on.

  As we raced forward, the voices of our enemy became much clearer. There were at least two dozen of the bastards just ahead, likely more in the surrounding trees. I had no doubt they were prepared for our arrival. Just waiting for the massacre to begin.

  Within seconds, the stench became stronger, a dim glow in the distance drawing my attention. A fire.

  They were planning on sacrificing Coraline just like their ancestors had been. I started to run as did the others. Within seconds, gunshots rang out, several bright lights turned in our direction. They were attempting to outmaneuver us.

  I got off several rounds, taking down at least four of their men. Then my wolf refused to ignore his needs. As the transformation began, I sensed my brothers were also succumbing to their hunger. Pain ripped through my body, forcing me to the ground. I was gasping for air, every sound becoming more intensified, every smell enticing my beast.

  When my claws were freed, I pawed the ground, able to gather Coraline’s scent with ease. And I could read her mind. She was terrified, struggling with the bindings keeping her immobile. I sprang forward, my body finishing the last of the transition, racing through the forest as I issued low, husky growls. I was calling all the others, preparing them for the fight ahead.

  A series of screams and anguished cries floated into the night sky, the sound like sweet music. Panting, I shifted from one side to the other, picking off several enemies before they had a chance to fire a single shot. But there more, so many of them, the attack well planned.

  I was forced to ignore the horrible cries, trying to connect mentally with Coraline. She needed to stay calm in order to survive. The forest reeked of blood, the coppery scent fueling the drive, my need to feed. But now wasn’t the time.

  “There’s so many of them,” Sebastian relayed, our mental tether fully in place.

  “Find my mate,” I instructed, powering forward.

  “Go. Go. Go!” Christoff added, suddenly within inches of me. A flash drew our attention, one of their soldiers taking aim and firing.

  Christoff lunged toward the man, his actions pushing him in front of me. Even though the bullet hit him square in the chest, he didn’t falter, reaching the terrified man and within seconds, tearing him apart. When he fell to the ground, I bounded in his direction.

  “Go,” he instructed. “I will heal.”

  And he would, the shot just missing his heart. I let off another howl then broke through a line of trees. The sight in front of me drove my rage to the extreme.

  Coraline was tied to a pole, the thick rope wound all the way to her ankles. Beneath her was a heaping pile of brush, beside her a lit torch, the flame licking toward the heavens.

  I took several deep breaths, waiting as dozens of my people moved into a circle, all with weapons pointed in their direction. The standoff would end with a significant loss of life, but as with all battles of this kind, the loss of life was necessary for continued evolution.

  “Be careful, brother,” Marcel said, his wolf gleaming in the firelight.

  “Find the leader. The bastard is here,” I instructed to every creature then padded forward, stopping only yards away from the horrific scene. Coraline was struggling to take deep breaths, her eyes full of fear. “Look at me, Coraline. I am here.”

  I couldn’t be certain whether our mating was enough to connect our minds. When she slowly lifted her head, her gaze finding mine, I gave her an exaggerated nod. Her resilience was strong, a smile crossing her face.

  “How?” she asked in her mind, although I sensed she was finally able to understand.

  “Because I am Lycan.”

  She seemed to take comfort in my answer, holding her head high.

  “Well. Well. Well. I expected you sooner.”

  The voice came from behind the pylon but within seconds, the asshole moved into the light. He was a large man, at least six foot five, his blond hair glowing in the torturous light.

  I clawed the ground as a response, inching closer. The men flanking his side immediately raised their weapons. I was surprised most of them were filled with terror. They hadn’t been told what to expect. While our soldiers were mystified, it was obvious rumors had given them partial information on who and what we were.

  “There are at least two more lines of their men behind him,” Sebastian communicated as he inched closer.

  “We will go through them all,” I said, growling afterwards.

  “You need to survive,” Marcel scoffed.

  “I assure you I will, brother. This is just the beginning.” I took careful steps toward the obvious leader, realizing from what limited information I’d found on the Fontenot family that the man standing in front of me was Tony Fontenot, the prince of his father’s crime syndicate, the man ready to take over given his father’s ill health. Two powerful families with dangerous pasts.

  “I’m sorry. You can’t talk, but I know who you are,” Tony said then laughed, causing all the men surrounding him to do the same. “I’m Tony Fontenot, but I guess you already knew that. You’re nothing if not prepared for your enemy. Or were you this time?” He dared to brush his fingers across Coraline’s arm before walking closer.

  She recoiled, hissing after he walked away. “Bastard.”

  “Breathe, Coraline. Don’t provoke him,” I said, swinging my head in her direction.

  Her questions increased, but she remained quiet.

  “Did you enjoy the little shows I put on? The questions. The accusations. I particularly enjoyed tipping off the reporter. Too bad he interrupted that fabulous charity event. But I got to see it all up close and personal.”

  I hadn’t been able to detect the bastard’s presence at the event. Christ.

  “Anyway,” he continued. “As you can see, I’m prepared to sacrifice your beloved mate. I was hoping you’d arrive in time to see the glorious event. By the way, I just want to point out that we outnumber you. There is nothing you can do about it. My only hope is that in the process, the entire Dupree family will be exterminated. You see, I knew all four of you would come to save the day, which only leaves that disgusting brother of yours in prison. I have special plans for him.”

  There was no time to waste. As I commanded the others in my mind, I leapt off the ground.

  In the melee that followed, hundreds of shots were fired. I felt every blow that wolf members of my family were forced to endure, some of the bullets issued killing blows. While our attack was savage, Tony managed to yank the torch from the ground, lighting the aged wood. As flames erupted, Coraline screamed, fighting with the rope holding her in place.

  No longer did anything matter except for saving her. I lunged over the flames, my sharp canines piercing the rope. It took several seconds to chew my way through. As the bindings startled to unfurl, my mate fought, knowing her life depended on it. When she managed to free her arms, dragging the rest of the rope away, she reached out for me.

  “Gabriel!”

  “Trust me. Jump on my back. You can do it.” I only prayed she continued hearing me. When she followed my command, pistoning her body away from the killing flames and grabbing onto my back, I threw my head toward the blackened sky and bellowed. The smoke was thick, the acrid stench rushing all around us. She clung to me, digging her nails into the scruff on my neck as I bolted away from the fire. The pelting gunfire continued, screams erupting from every corner, but nothing would stop me from saving her.

  I raced through the forest, able to lose the assholes following me within minutes. When I finally breached the other side, I sensed her exhaustion as the adrenaline flow that had kept her from panicking faded away. I slowed then finally stopped, allowing her to slip to the ground.

  A single whimper escaped her mouth as she crawled away from me, her eyes never blinking. She took several deep breaths then struggled to rise to her feet, holding her arms as she scanned the darkness.

  “Why do I know what you’re saying? How?” she asked, her voice breathless.

  While no danger remained close, I took my time scouting the perimeter before moving closer. I cocked my head, studying her intently. A trickle of fear remained in her, but her curiosity continued to increase.

  “Because you’re my mate.” I could easily tell she understood, a slight smile crossing her face, even though her eyes continued to show she was drifting into shock. I moved closer until we were only inches apart.

  Every move she made tentative, she reached out, finally stroking my muzzle. “Gabriel.”

  “Yes.”

  The wind had shifted, pushing the stink of blood and death away. As I lifted my head, staring at the full moon, I knew in the bowels of my being the war between the two families was just beginning.

  Two days later

  There was a somber aura in my father’s house even though nothing had changed since my last visit. A knowing had settled in, a realization that the fight we were facing would continue to be bloody as hell, far too many lives lost. While we’d proven we were a force to be reckoned with, the curse remained active.

  I barely tasted the drink in my hand, the liquor doing little to calm my nerves or the now constant hunger burdening my system. My brothers seemed to be experiencing the same subtle yet powerful emotions that we hadn’t been able to ignore.

  “Tony Fontenot hasn’t been found,” our father said as he continued to stare out the window of his office. He hadn’t moved in several minutes, barely touching his drink.

  “The area in the Bayou has been cleaned,” Sebastian said more in passing. Of all of us, he seemed the least affected, even handling business while a combination of our soldiers had been commanded to scour the kill zone for any evidence.

  Exhaling, I took another sip, the burn in the back of my throat enough to rile my wolf. “He must be found.”

  Pops laughed, shifting a quick glance in my direction. “He won’t surface again until necessary.”

  “He’s hiding with his tail between his legs,” Marcel chortled.

  “There was no winner in the recent battle, brother,” I chastised. “Too many lives were lost because we were caught off guard.”

  “Then what the hell do you suggest we do?” Christoff asked.